- New state budget includes $40 million to help school districts offer dual enrollment courses for high school students
- A key tuition-free community college program is being expanded
- Michigan is continuing state scholarships for recent high school graduates
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed her final, $22.9 billion education budget Tuesday — a plan that not only continues the state’s efforts to improve literacy but also throws more money into the push to boost college enrollment.
Whitmer has set a goal that by 2030, 60% of working age adults in Michigan will have a skills certificate or college degree, up from the current 51.6%.
Here is what to know about the new budget:
New dual enrollment effort
The budget includes $40 million toward reimbursing districts for dual enrollment costs.
High school students take courses that count for college credit for free. Some attend college on campus, while others attend online or a community college instructor comes to the high school. But experts have said there is a disincentive for districts to participate because schools pay for the programs using their per-pupil funds.
The new funding prioritizes reimbursements for high-poverty districts, but wealthier districts can participate if there are enough funds.
The budget also includes $2.8 million toward increasing student participation in International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement and the College-Level Examination Program. High school students may get college credit if they participate.
Lowering the age of tuition-free community college
Under the new budget, more adults can take advantage of the state’s tuition-free community college programs.
Related:
- How 4-year-olds are giving Michigan districts an incentive to build, expand
- Gov. Whitmer has vowed to boost literacy in Michigan. Here’s where we stand
- Michigan gives grants to districts that require students to fill out FAFSA
- Michigan college enrollment rate slips, despite $1B in state scholarships
- More Michigan students need AP classes, other rigorous coursework, report says
- Michigan residents with degrees, skills certificates rises, but state ranking falls
Michigan Reconnect covers in-district tuition and fees for adults at community colleges. The new budget lowers the age eligibility from 25 and older to 21 and older. The state had previously temporarily expanded access to the program. The Legislature has not passed a bill that would make Reconnect Program expansion permanent.
Recent high school graduates can also attend community college tuition-free through the Michigan Achievement scholarship program.
The new budget includes $67 million for Michigan Reconnect, a nearly 60% increase from the previous year, according to an analysis from the Senate Fiscal Agency.
Ryan Fewins-Bliss, executive director of the Michigan College Access Network, told Bridge he is “really excited” about the Reconnect expansion, saying “we know it works.”
“So doubling down on things that work seems like the thing to do.”
Boosting FAFSA completion
The budget also includes $10 million for school districts to operate FAFSA completion programs.
Students and families who fill out the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, may qualify for college grants, loans and work study.
About 56% of the high school class of 2026 filled out the FAFSA, according to the Michigan College Access Network’s FAFSA tracker.
The federal form is also used to determine whether a student qualifies for state programs like the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.
School districts that have previously accepted state funds for FAFSA have required students to complete the form to graduate or to opt-out. Leaders of those districts have reported making more efforts to connect students and their families with college application information. This includes holding informational meetings, making school staff available to help with completing the federal form and college visits.
Recent high school graduates can get college funds
The budget includes $532 million for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which provides funds to attend community college, an independent nonprofit college or public university in the state.
Students may also attend a qualifying career training program through the Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship.
The scholarship program is only a few years old, and Whitmer said Tuesday the scholarship has helped more than 58,000 students so far.
Other education budget highlights
- School districts will receive $10,300 per student, up from $10,050 the previous year.
- Leaders kept the state’s universal school meals program for public and private schools.
- Schools can apply for $310 million in school safety and mental health grant funds. Schools that opt to take the safety funds will still be required to waive attorney-client privilege if a mass-casualty event occurs on campus. Many districts refused the funds last year because of this provision.
- There’s a new $30 million program for early literacy partnerships, home visits and book distributions. This replaces Great Start Collaboratives, which were cut in the last budget cycle.
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